Griggs courier., 1887-10-28

\ 6ra Ain7 ~ suung sllals mnillx spskgs
vas put in order, Hal GOT out ths bows
and arrows, and took : little wooden
plate from his sister 5 dollhouse for !
target.
.sYou run to the tool-house for q ham
mer and nail, Hugh" he said, sand
we'll fasten this to the old elm"
Hugh made one eager step forward,
then paused, and over his face came .
look of such CONSERVATION and dismay
that Hal stared at him in amazement.
"What's the matterp" he asked.
'o.. Hal, Imust 60 home; rmust 60
home at once," answered Hugh.
when you spoke of the tool-house
remembered that I have wild canary
shut up in our tool-house at home, and
unless I 60 back at once it will starve
to DEATH
''Let it starve. then" said Hal. "You
surely wouldn't miss all the fun to- NOR
row just for the sake Of bird! You
can catch another. and, if you don't, it
won't be much of a loss"
''But I promised mother wouldn't
neglect it. You know I let my rabbits
starve to death, and mother said then
I did not deserve to ever have another
pet. I must go back, Hal. OF course
it is hard for me to give up the fun; but
there is no help for it as far as can
see."
II don'tsee. But there 8 father; let s
ask him about it." said Hal, as Mr..
Nelson appeared in the doorway of the
stable. 81 know he will say you would
be foolish to Co."
That was exactly what Mr.. Nelson
did say, and, he added, II will give you
what you expected to get for the bird,
Hugh, and that will make it all right,
and save you the trouble of taking il to
the fair"
''That's not it, Uncle. don't care
so much for the money, but I don't
want to let the bird die.''
''But l have no way of sending you
home, Hugh. I can not go to Barclay
again until Friday, and as it is twelve
miles from the railroad and three from
your fathers farm. there would be no ad.
vantage in your going by rail. No. you
must give up this idea, my boy, and try
to forget it. And. after all, the life Of
a bird is a very small affair and not
worth SO much worry"
Every likely it will live until Fri
day." said Hal cheerfully, "and if it
don't it won't matter much, as father
says. Come on. let's set up the tar
get"
But it was with very sober face and
tagging steps that Hugh followed his
cousin to the tool-house to get the nec-
essary nail, and he showed no enthu-
siasm when his arrow pierced the mark.
His mind was dwelling on that poor
little canary twenty miles away, and
the promise he had made regarding it.
When several of the neighborhood
boys called to see Hal and take part in
the sport, Hugh slipped away, and run
ming into the barn, threw himself on
pile of hay in the loft to think over his
position.
The question he had to decide was
very difficult one. He wanted SO much
t" stay for the picnic and the fireworks.
It would be terribly hard to give up all
the promised enjoyment and as his
uncle had said the life of bird was not
of much consequence, anyway, and his
mother would surely excuse him. under
all the circumstances, for breaking his
promise. And if he went home he
would anger and disappoint Hal. It
was long walk. too. Twenty miles.
and the road was dusty and unshaded.
He could not reach home until dark.
even if he started at once. No; it was
certainly better that he should stay at
his uncle's. There was chance, too
though very slim one-that Ralph
would go into the tool-house and see
the bird, or that his mother would re-
member it.
Then the recollection of the rabbits
he had allowed to starve to death came
to disturb him. Would his mother ex-
cuse him for breaking his promise
when he had assured her SO earnestly
that the bird should not be neglected.
No, he was sure she would not And
she would never trust him again.
"But can't, can't co." he NUT
tered, with choking sound in his
throat that was almost q sob. '.It's q
little too much to expect a fellow to
give up every thing
But. after all, his sense of right con-
quered, and when Hal went into the
house half an hour later, to inquire for
his cousin, he found note on the bu-
reau of the room they had occupied the